foxhounds | night six

[Welp. He's surprised it took this long, but he's ready. Even though the gun does very little for him, he's got that, too. Matt, rather than run, just makes sure he's near a tree, then he's turning to face whoever's coming. Tense, angry, and ready to move at any second, he stands in front of said tree, cane in hand.]

I wouldn't. [By waiting of greeting]

[Well, the dogs might be a little further back than it seemed initially. They're definitely approaching, but from the sound of someone sprinting through underbrush, it doesn't seem like Matt is actually their target, but rather, they're chasing someone else. Whoever it is is definitely breathing hard in what sounds like panic as they crash through a tangle of vines and stumble to the ground.]

Matt?!

[Yeah, it's Hinata.]

M-Matt, you can hear that, can't you?! We've got to run!

[The dogs give chase, barking ferociously, and from behind them there are the softer steps of light boots through the underbrush. Whether it can be heard over the barking and trampling feet of the dogs is up for debate, though.

Either way, Hinata is definitely being stalked, even as whoever is doing the stalking comes closer--though she hasn't appeared quite yet.]

[Hinata if this is a trick he's disowning you too]

[That... wasn't what he expected, and his head cants towards Hinata in alarm. He can pick up on the sound of light boots, but he's not sure if there are more hunters and predictably, his concern is for Hinata.]

[He closes the distance between them with ease, reaching out for Hinata's arm if Hinata is struggling]

How many are after you?

[His voice is steady, he doesn't appear to be afraid]

[Nobody expects Hajime Hinata-!! He's still breathing really hard, and takes Matt's arm as soon as he realizes that it's being offered, using it to haul himself to his feet.]

I don't-- I don't know! It sounded like at least two dogs, a-and--!

You saw what they did! We have to get out of here!

[He's even going to try to tug a little on Matt's arm. Dad, we have to go! :( Hinata doesn't have super hearing or anything, so all he can be expected to hear are the dogs.]

[Naturally, that is about when Clarine steps out, not that Matt can see that. Still, it's obviously her voice when she finally speaks.]

Hold on. Heel.

[The Foxhounds seem well-trained, at least...they stop when she calls them to, though their fur is still bristling and they still growl low in their throats.

She inspects the scene for a moment and sighs.]

... Matt. I...truly am sorry for this...

[And yet here we are.]

[Hinata can grab his arm, but Matt will pull it away as the killer steps out, tugging him behind him instead, and taking a few steps forward to make sure he's between ahoge and all the doges.]

Hinata, get out of here. I'll handle this.

[And then he's only got eyes (metaphorically) for-]

Edited 2015-08-30 21:42 (UTC)

--Clarine?

[No, that can't be right. He must be hearing wrong. There's no way.]

[There's no way.]

[But it's her voice, it's her smell, (though he can faintly make it out in between all the dogs and Hinata and the jungle), and the foxhounds heel upon orders, and--]

[His usually unshakable demeanor cracks and it's not with anger (yet), it's with shock.]

That can't be--- Clarine, what are you doing?

[sidekick-chan is floored by these developments...!!]

[Hinata doesn't fight getting pushed back; he almost stumbles again, but he keeps his footing. If anything, he lets out a soft yell of surprise -- who'd have thought poor, sweet Clarine would have been the one chasing him??

But with Matt's attention on her, it gives Hinata his chance. He could run, and Clarine could kill Matt, and give him his chance to escape!

Or he could draw a pistol, quickly firing twice -- toward Matt. He hadn't been faking it, when he'd killed Rei; he's not a practiced shot, for as much as the trial back on Jabberwock had seemed like a shooting range. Both shots would go slightly wide, though maybe there's a dose of Super High School Level Luck with him, for once; they'll hit the same shoulder as is connected to the hand holding the gun.

mmm whatcha say]

Edited 2015-08-30 21:58 (UTC)

[Clarine waits until Hinata fires before she steps forward, closer to Matt. At the same time, she clicks her tongue for the dogs, saying softly but firmly:]

Erk, Pochi, go.

[She directs them towards the arm holding the gun; if Hinata's shot doesn't cause Matt to drop the weapon, having two foxhounds come for that arm probably will.

Surprise, sidekick-chan, these two limp noodles are here and ready for murder.]

[BOTH OF THEM???]

[Hinata's got the element of surprise with him, since Matt definitely doesn't expect him either, but even with how tired he's feeling and the shots coming from behind him, he hears the gun fire and he moves on instinct.]

[The first shot grazes his shoulder (making him grit his teeth and grunt in pain), but isn't enough to make him drop the gun. Rather than shoot at the kids or at the dogs, he soundly pistolwhips one of cute canines, and tosses his cane into the snapping jaws of the other. If that buys him a second or two, he'll be jerking away from those teeth and shifting the gun to the other hand. His reactions are slower - but not slow enough. For the moment.]

Clarine-- Hinata! You don't have to do this.

Edited 2015-08-30 22:40 (UTC)

Shit-!

[This goes beyond boxing!

Pochi catches the cane, almost looking comically startled for a moment since he really wasn't expecting a game of fetch. It only lasts a second before the dog roughly whips his head to drop the cane and let out another angry snarl. The fierce foxhound with an almost painfully ordinary name lunges around Matt's feet, making a very valiant attempt to catch one of Matt's ankles without being kicked for his trouble.]

No, that's wrong! [They do have to do this. Hinata's stumbling back, further away from Matt because like hell does he want to get punched.] You said you trusted me, I didn't lie about what I wanted!

[About wanting everyone to go home, that is.]

[Erk staggers at the pistol whipping, taking a few moments to recover--but nonetheless the dog recovers, almost unnaturally so perhaps. He certainly shouldn't be alright after a sound pistol whipping, and yet... he does seem to be doing okay.

Clarine, on the other hand, steps back as well, because no thanks sidekick-chan stop being so competent.]

We're doing this for everyone, Matt...! I... certainly do not expect you to understand, but please listen! For just a moment...

[Everything happens so much. Hinata, Clarine, all along--- The kids he'd been trying to protect, the kids he promised he'd do his best to get home--]

Point me to the Judge and I'll deal with her!

[Because clearly these poor cinnamon rolls are getting coerced and blackmailed and if he takes her out, they'll be free??]

[Pochi gets as far as pantleg and a bit of skin before that kicking comes for him. Matt barely flinches as he's bitten, but his kick is hard, if sluggish. Pochi's welcome to take off part of his shoe as it happens. Or the whole shoe.]

[Yet, he's still making no moves to hurt either one of his human attackers, even if he's tense, as if trying to anticipate their next move. A bit of blood trickles down from his shoulder]

Call them off. [His tone is firm, cutting, authoritative, and deeper than usual. Someone's been practicing his Batman voice.] I'm listening.

[Pochi is absolutely taking that shoe. He'll probably keep it, too, because he has earned this. This is his now. But before he can lunge again, Hinata's pointing -- with the gun, because it's still in his hand --]

Pochi, stop!

[--And immediately, he does. He's still growling, muscles still tensed and ready to spring, but he's not springing yet.]

H-how do you know about her?!

[If there's anything Hinata was expecting to hear, it certainly wasn't that. There's genuine surprise in his voice, as well as fear -- did they make a mistake? Are they making a mistake? He's frantically trying to cycle through his evidence bullets to think of a time when the Judge has been mentioned during the day, and he can't.]

Erk, stop...

[She also calls her dog to her side, expression tense. No, Clarine also does not like the Judge, but she's pretty sure this is not right at all.

... .. ... She crosses her arms across her chest, a defiant gesture (but one that's more hesitant than anything).]

... How much do you truly know, Matt?

[Never in public. Never in trials. How does he know? That's a mystery he's not willing to share just yet.]

I know she's the one running this sick excuse for a game. The one you all answer to. [But the dogs are heeling - good kids. Matt doesn't relax one iota, and he's now bitten and missing a shoe, but with the ceasefire (heh!), he's standing in place, head tilted towards them.]

Why don't you tell me? How is this getting everyone home, Hinata? How is this for the good of everyone, Clarine? [There's an edge of anger to his voice, despite the lack of aggression]

We don't answer to that woman!

[Woah, sudden vehemence from the tall weenie corner. Now that they've stopped moving, now that Hinata's not trying to dodge or predict how Matt will move, he's starting to shake from the impact of what they're doing.]

It's thanks to one of us that the Judge's pet got revealed as soon as soon as she did! I--

[And there's a beat, where it seems like he's going to continue, but then stops. Seems almost like he can't.]

I... just need you to trust me, Matt. My part in this... is the only thing I've ever lied to you about.

[WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG LIE, HINATA.]

Edited 2015-08-30 23:47 (UTC)

[At quite honestly almost the same time as Hinata--]

That stain on this island is not who we answer to, so I would appreciate that you do not insinuate so!

[Wow, there's a lot of hate for the Judge over here from both weenies......]

... I am sorry. Removing you from this barbaric game is the best we can do... You shall understand after. Or... or so I hope. Regardless, I shall not make excuses for what we have done and...for what we are doing.

Then who, if not her? She's behind all of this, isn't she? [Reactions noted. And he's guessing they're referring to Shijima. He's still pretty pissed about getting used by Orion, but Shijima was a danger, so he's willing to let that slide]

You're trying to kill me. You've killed innocent people, including your own friends. [and some swords, who cares] Why, exactly, should I trust either of you?

I want answers. [There goes the Batman voice. Dad Batman voice.]

She might have started it, but we're going to end it!

[Hinata's still shaking as he yells that; Pochi whines quietly in the back of his throat, as if sensing his master's distress, but he doesn't relax or take his eyes off Matt. Just in case he gets a shot for the other shoe.]

I'm trying to tell you, Matt! I'm giving you everything I can! If we die, if we lose... no one gets to go home. Not us, not you, not anyone who's left. Don't you get it?!

... He is right. Do you believe we would do this for any other reason? We are going to end this.

[She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes, and then shakes her head.]

Still... I am aware of what this looks like. I do not expect you to... [Forgive them... it hurts, she can't bring herself to say it, because it's the last thing she wants, in truth. She'd always wanted to make people proud, Matt included, and this....well.]

... We have to do this.

[It's hard to say if that's intended for Matt, or Hinata and Clarine.]

[Yeah, he can put two and two together. He remembers that beast from the first night, the implications that have been made to him, by several people, several times.]

[It's easy to read between the lines of what they're saying, with how distressed they are. As angry as he is, he can't blame them. But:] How do you know that you aren't being played? That "winning" this game really will end this? That you, or I, or anyone else won't be forced to go through all of this again? Shijima was.

[His voice softens - closer to the usual, protective Mattdad. His fight isn't with them, not truly. Not even with Pochi the shoe thief] Tell me where I can find the Judge. I can end this myself.

Because... we have someone we've decided to believe in. Someone who's watched over us and done everything she could for all of us on this island. Because... if the generals are being played, the only ones who will be hurt from it... will be the two of us.

[Matt can't see Hinata's face, but surely he can hear resolve in his voice. Anger, sadness, and fear, too, but a quiet resolve nonetheless as he nods at Clarine, bringing the gun up again with both hands.]

If you really want to meet the Judge... you have to die here. That's the only way for sure I know you'd be able to see her.

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